Photoelectrostatic copying machine



Nov. 4, 1969 J. L. TREGAY ET AL 3,476,382

PHOTOELEGTROSTATIC COPYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Nov. 4, 1969 J. L. TREGAY ET AL 3,476,382

PHOTOELECTROSTATIC COPYING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9. 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5United States Patent US. Cl. 27152 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA copy making machine including an original illuminating station and acopy exposure station makes single or multiple copies of an original.For multiple copies, a gate is positioned to recycle the original arounda closed path. In single or multiple operation, a single switch sensesthe original and causes a copy sheet to be moved .in synchronism to theexposure station. Edge guides engage side edges of the original sheetand include portions extending into the original feed area so thatadjustment of the guides is facilitated. A manually operated multiplecopy control is locked in position until a final copy is made so thatthe gate cannot be moved and jamming of an original by the gate isprevented.

The present invention relates to copy machines of the photoelectrostatictype and more particularly to an improved copying machine for makingmultiple copies of an original.

Automatic photoelectrostatic copying machines produce a copy of agraphic original upon a photoconductive copy sheet that is automaticallyfed from a supply bin into the machine in response to and in timedrelation with the manual feeding of the original. Drive means receivethe sheets at their respective feed-in stations and propel the originaland copy sheet in synchronization through the machine. The original andcopy sheets are moved in synchronization through the machine, the copysheet being electrostatically charged as it enters and is then exposedat an exposure station by means of a reflected light image produced asthe original is moved past an illuminating station.

The latent electrostatic image produced on the copy sheet by exposure isrendered visible by the application of a developer, and is subsequentlyrendered permanent by fusing. A more complete description of theoperation of this type of automatic photoelectrostatic copying machinemay be found in a co-pending application of John L. Tregay and KristianL. Helland, filed Aug. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 389,037, now Patent No.3,398,259, which is assigned to the same assignee as the presentinvention.

In many applications of automatic copying machines it is desired to makeseveral consecutive copies of a single graphic original sheet. Automaticcopying machines of the type above described are single copy machines,that is, only a single copy is generated each time the original is fedinto the machine. In the circumstance where more than one copy isrequired the original must be refed each time it is returned for eachindividual copy made. The necessity to manually reinsert the original isinconvenient and slows up the copying process where multiple copies arerequired. Accordingly it is a primary object of the present invention toprovide an improved automatic photoelectrostatic copying machine capableof automatically producing multiple copies of an original sheet.

Machines used in the past for producing multiple copies of an originalsheet have suffered from several disadvantages, a principal disadvantagebeing poor control of 3,476,382 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 the recycling pathof the original. Upon being recirculated several times through themachine, the sheet tends to get out of alignment with the initial feedpath. This is a problem of some magnitude in multiple copying machines,since a slight error in alignment may be magnified with each successivepass of the original sheet and resulting in loss of synchronization withthe copy sheet. Another disadvantage found in machines used in the pastis that they required complex control circuit arrangements includingsheet sensing means located throughout the machine for controlling therecycling function.

In the manufacture of complicated devices such as photoelectrostaticcopying machines, it is desirable to produce a reliable basic machinewhich can be easily and economically altered to provide specializedfunctions required by some users. Accordingly, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide a largely self-contained and compactsubassembly which may be used with a standard photoelectrostatic copyingmachine such as that disclosed in the abovementioned copendingapplication in order to render the machine capable of producing multiplecopies.

Machines capable of automatically producing a series of copies of asingle original sheet and then returning the sheet to the exterior ofthe machine customarily include a gate movable between positions foreither recycling the original sheet through the machine or for returningthe sheet. In machines developed heretofore it has been possible for theoperator of the machine inadvertently to manipulate the machine controlsand cause the gate to move against an original sheet passing the gateand thus cause the machine to become jammed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a new andimproved photoelectrostatic copying machine for producing multiplecopies of an original sheet and for automatically returning the originalsheet, and to produce a machine overcoming the abovementioneddisadvantages of prior machines of this type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedmultiple copy photoelectrostatic copying machine including novel meansfor preventing an original sheet from becoming jammed in the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmultiple copy photoelectrostatic copying machine having a novel lockingarrangement for locking the manually operable control while the originalsheet is passing the movable gate.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved multiplecopy machine having a single sensing means in the path of the originalsheet for automatically feeding a copy sheet upon initial insertion ofthe original sheet and upon each subsequent pass of the recycledoriginal sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel original sheethandling subassembly for attachment to a standard photoelectrostaticcopying machine and to provide such a subassembly which can beconveniently powered by a single rotating shaft in the original machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedarrangement for maintaining an original sheet in proper alignmentthroughout successive passes through a photoelectrostatic copyingmachine.

Another object is to provide novel adjusting means for properlypositioning sheet aligning means for original sheets of various widths.

Briefly, in accordance with these and other objects of the invention, aphotoelectrostatic copying machine embodying the present invention maycomprise an arrangement of driving rollers and guides for moving anoriginal sheet fed into the machine past an illuminating station inorder to produce a reflected image used to expose a copy sheet movingsimultaneously past an exposure station. The machine includes a feedtable and an original sheet feeding station for the manual insertion ofan origi nal sheet to be copied into the machine, and also includes areceiving platform to which the original sheet is automatically returnedby the machine upon completion of the copying operation. An originalsheet inserted into the machine engages a sheet sensing switch containedin a suitable control circuit for automatically feeding a copy sheetpast the exposure station in synchronism with the original sheet passingthe illuminating station.

In order that multiple copies can automatically be made from a singleoriginal, the machine includes guides and drive rollers forming arecycle path for delivering the original sheet from the illuminatingstation and reintroducing the sheet near the original sheet feedingstation. Thus, in accordance with a feature of the invention, therecycling apparatus repeatedly feeds the original sheet past theilluminating station, and on the first and each subsequent pass thesheet engages the single original sheet sensing switch causing a copysheet to be fed.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the original sheetreturning apparatus and the recycling apparatus are contained in asingle unitary subassembly capable of being easily installed on astandard copying machine to render the machine capable of automaticallyproducing multiple copies. When connected to the machine, all the sheetdriving rollers of both the sheet return and the recycling apparatus areconveniently powered by a simple drive connection from one rotatingshaft of the machine. Thus the subassembly is largely self-contained andcan be economically installed to add the recycling feature to a standardcopying machine.

In order to maintain the original sheet in properly aligned positionduring production of multiple copies, when the original sheet isrecycled several times, edge guides engage the side edges of the sheetas it moves around the recycle path. Two sets of edge guides areprovided and extend along a substantial segment of the recycle path.Adjustment shafts, threaded symmetrically from the center of the recyclepath, serve to adjust the position of the guides and to assure thatoriginal sheets of any width are properly centered in the machine.Adjustment of the guides is accomplished with a single manual controlmounted at the side of the machine.

The edge guides can easily be positioned precisely to fit any originalsheet size, since portions of one set of guides extend outwardly alongthe feed table from the original sheet feeding station and serve aspositioning guides during the insertion of the original sheet. Thus theguides may be visually adjusted with the single manual control while theoriginal sheet is lying between the guides on the feed table.

A gate is provided for guiding the original sheet from the illuminatingstation either to the recycle path or to the return path. Furthermore,the machine includes a manually operated control and a control circuitfor programming the machine to make any number of copies, and then tooutomatically return the original sheet. Thus the manual control servesto cause the control circuit to move the gate to the recycle positionand to set a counting mechanism for any selected number of copies. Whenthe final copy is made, the gate is automatically returned to the returnposition. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the manualcontrol is locked in position when the gate is in the return positionuntil the original sheet has passed the gate so that the gate cannotinadvertently be moved against the original sheet.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the operatingcircuit is prevented from shifting the position of the gate until theoriginal sheet is past. This is accomplished by providing the countingmechanism with a holding feature so that with each pass of an originalsheet, the counting mechanism cannot be reactivated until the sheet hascleared the gate.

The invention, together with other objects and advantages, will best beunderstood from considering the following detailed description inconjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a photoelectrostatic copyingmachine embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary partial sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary partial sectional view illustrating a portion ofthe structure shown in F-iG. 2 with the movable gate in the returnposition rather than the recycle position;

FIG. 4 is a partial fragmentary elevational view of a portion of themachine of FIG. 1 with part of the housing removed;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1 takensubstantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1, and illustrating a portion ofthe path of the copy sheet through the machine; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic and schematic representation of a portion ofthe control circuit for the machine shown in FIG. 1.

Having reference now to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, aphotoelectrostatic copying machine characterized by the features of theinvention is designated generally as 10. The machine 10 servesautomatically to pr0- duce upon copy sheets either a single copy ormultiple copies of an original sheet fed into the machine. The machine10 includes a feed table 12 and an original sheet feeding station 13 forthe manual insertion of an original sheet into the machine, and alsoincludes a receiving platform 14 upon which the original sheet isautomatically deposited upon completion of the copying operation.Movement of the original sheet into the machine causes a copy sheetautomatically to be fed from a copy sheet supply enclosure 16 into themachine where a copy is produced thereon. The completed copy isdeposited upon a copy sheet receiving platform 18.

The machine 10 includes an original sheet handling subassembly 20,illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2-4, including means defining a recyclepath generally designated as 22 and a return path generally designatedas 24. Furthermore the original sheet handling subassembly 20 includes amovable gate 26 effective to guide original sheets either to the recyclepath 22 or the return path 24.

When an original sheet is fed from the feed table 12 into the originalsheet feeding station 13, it is guided by an upper guide 28 and by lowerguides 30 and 32 between a forward pair of original drive rollers 34 and36. The leading edge of the original sheet as it passes between therollers 34 and 36 engages a lever 38 which actuates an original sheetsensing switch 40. Suitable apparatus such as the control circuitillustrated in the above referred to Tregay et al. copending applicationis effective to feed a copy sheet from the copy sheet supply enclosure16 in response to actuation of the original sheet sensing switch 40.Thus a copy sheet commences to move along a copy sheet path generallydesignated as 42, a portion of which is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The copy sheet passes between a forward pair of copy sheet drive rollers44 and 46 and thereafter the original sheet and the copy sheet pass insynchronism through the machine .10, the original sheet passing acrossan illuminating station 48 and the copy sheet passing through a chargingstation 50 and an exposure station 52. As explained in detail in theabove-mentioned copending application, a reflected light image passesfrom the original sheet at the illuminating station through an optics assembly to the charged copy sheet at the exposure station and anelectrostatic charge image is produced on the copy sheet.

The copy sheet is moved from the exposure station 52 by means of a rearpair of copy sheet drive rollers 54 and 56 and is advanced into themachine for development and fusing before being deposited on the copysheet receiving platform 18. The original sheet is delivered from theilluminating station 48 by means of a rear pair of original driverollers 58 and 60 and is advanced toward the movable gate 26 by means ofa curved guide member 62.

If only a single copy is to be made, the movable gate 26 is positionedin the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, and the original sheet is directedalong the return path 24. The return path 24 is defined by a fixed guidemember 64 and by an elongated guiding portion 26a of the movable gate26. A pair of return drive shafts 66 and 68 carrying driving wheels 70serve to propel the original sheet along the return path 24 and onto thereceiving platform 14.

Alternatively, if multiple copies of the original sheet are to be made,the movable gate 26 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2 and theoriginal sheet is directed along the recycle path 22 by means of a shortcurved guiding portion 26b of the movable gate 26. In the recycle path22, the original sheet is propeled by means of a rear pair of recycledrive shafts 72 and 74 over a lower supporting guide 76. The originalsheet is then propelled through a forward pair of recycle drive shafts78 and 80, is guided by a center guide 82 and an inner guide 84 along acurved path, and is then reintroduced to the forward original driverollers by means of the lower guide 32.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the originalsheet sensing apparatus for causing a copy sheet to be fed into themachine is very simple. It can be seen that the single original sheetsensing switch is actuated not only by the original sheet as it isinitially fed, but also on each subsequent recirculation. Thus it is notnecessary to provide additional sheet sensing means along the recyclepath.

The original sheet handling subassembly 20 comprises a simple andlargely self-contained unit fitting conveniently upon the top of themachine 10 and can easily be mounted upon the basic photoelectrostaticcopying machine such as the machine disclosed in the copendingapplication referred to above. In order to simplify the connection ofthe subassembly 20 to the machine 10, and in accordance with a featureof the invention, all of the driving shafts associated with thesubassembly 20 are powered from a single one of the rotating shafts ofthe machine 10 by means of a simple driving arrangement. Thus a drivinggear 86 is mounted for rotation between and is engageable with gears onthe rear original drive roller 58 and the rear recycle drive shaft 74.Thus rotation of the roller 58 will induce rotation of the shaft 74,which in turn frictionally drives the rear recycle drive shaft 72. Inaddition, by means of a toothed belt 88, the shaft 74 drives the forwardrecycle drive shaft 80 and, by means of another toothed belt 90, drivesthe return drive shaft 68. The shafts 66 and 78 are driven by frictionfrom the shafts 68 and 80.

In order to maintain the original sheet in proper alignment duringseveral successive passes past the illuminating station 48 and throughthe recycle path 22, the machine 10 is provided with a pair of forwardedge guides 92 and 94 and a pair of rear edge guides 96 and 98 (seeFIGS. 1, 2 and 4). In accordance with the invention, these guides areall adjustable by means of a single crank 100 located at the side of themachine 10 (FIG. 1), and are easily adjusted precisely to fit originalsheets of various widths.

The rear edge guides 96 and 98 comprise L-shaped flanges includingvertical portions 96a and 98a serving to engage the opposed edges of thecopy sheet and hold it in aligned position. These guides also includehorizontally arranged portions 96b and 98b which act as upper guides forthe original sheet as it passes over the lower supporting guide 76 alongthe recycle path 22. The guides 96 and 98 each carry a sleeve 102 havinginwardly protruding pins 102a coupled with oppositely extending helicalthreads or grooves 103 on a rotatably mounted threaded 6 shaft 104 (FIG.4). The shaft 104 is threaded symmetrically outwardly from the center sothat rotation of the shaft 104 causes the guides 96 and 98 to move insynchronization inwardly and outwardly along the shaft depending uponthe direction of rotation.

Similarly, the guides 92 and 94 each carry a sleeve 106 having pins 106aengageable with threads or grooves 107 on a rotatably mounted shaft 108threaded similarly to the shaft 104. The shafts 104 and 108 are coupledfor simultaneous rotation by means of a toothed belt 110 extendingbetween a pair of pulleys 112 and 114 carried by these shafts. The crank100 is connected to an extension 108a of the shaft 108 so that rotationof the crank 100 by the operator of the machine 10 is effective tosimultaneously move the four edge guides 96, 98, 92, and 94. Due to theuse of the symmetrically threaded shafts 104 and 108, the original sheetpassing around the recycle path 22 is always properly centered.

Having reference now to the construction of the guides 92 and 94, theseguides include portions 92a and 94a extending along the recycle path 22for engaging the edges of the original sheet and for guiding it aroundthe inner guide 84. In order to aid in aligning the original sheet as itis initially inserted along the feed table 12 and into the originalsheet feeding station 13, the guides 92 and 94 additionally includeportions 92b and 94b extending outwardly across the feed table 12 (FIG.1). Since the portions 92b and 94b are easily visible to the operator ofthe machine and since the original sheet before being inserted into themachine 10 lies on the feed table 12 between these guiding portions, theoperator may easily adjust the guides 92 and 94 to fit precisely thewidth of the original sheet by manipulation of the crank .100.Furthermore since the shaft 104 is arranged to rotate with the shaft108, the guides 96 and 98 will be positioned simultaneously with theguides 92 and 94.

As set forth above, the machine 10 is capable of producing either asingle copy or several copies of an original sheet fed into the machine.Whether the original sheet is recycled through the machine or isreturned to the receiving platform 14 depends upon the position of themovable gate 26. In order to control the position of the movable gate26, the machine 10 includes a gate operating solenoid 116 which iscontrolled by a control circuit generally designated as 118 (FIG. 6).The circuit 118 is set to control the production of different numbers ofcopies by a manually operated control arrangement generally designatedas 120. The control 120 includes a novel locking control for preventingjamming of the machine 10 as the original sheet passes the gate 26.

The solenoid 116 includes an armature 122 connected by means of a pivotpin 124 to a connecting link 126. Another pivot pin 128 joins theconnecting link 126 with an operating lever 130. An integral bushing130a (FIG. 4) on the operating lever 130 is secured to a pivot shaft 132mounted for rotation on the frame of the machine 10. The gate 26 issecured to the pivot shaft 132 intermediate the length of the gate 26between the elongated portion 26a and the shorter portion 26b.

When the solenoid 116 is deenergized, the gate 26 is held in a normalreturn position by a spring 134 connected between the frame of themachine 10 and the operating lever 130. When the solenoid 116 isenergized by the control circuit 118, the gate 26 is pivoted in aclockwise direction against the force of the spring 132 from the returnposition shown in FIG. 3'to the recycle position illustrated in FIG. 2.

The control circuit 118 includes a pair of terminals 136 and 138' forconnection to a suitable source of AC power. In order to control theenergization of the gate operating solenoid 116, the circuit includes agate controlling switch 140, which is connected in series with thesolenoid 116 across the output terminals of a fullwave rectifier bridge142 whose input terminals are connected to the power terminals 136 and138. The switch 140 is normally open and is operated to a closedcondition when an operator element 140a is depressed to connect thesolenoid 116 across the output of the bridge 142.

In order automatically to program the machine 10 to make either a singlecopy or to make multiple copies of an original sheet, it is necessaryonly to use the manually operated control 120. The control 120 includesa rotatable shaft 144 connected to an operating knob 146 convenientlypositioned at the front of the machine 10 (FIGS. 1 and 6). The shaft 144carries a switch operating disc or cam 148 having a recess 150 along theperiphery thereof. The knob 146 is set to different angula-rly spacedpositions to condition the machine 10 to produce any desired number ofcopies, such as from 1 to 20 copies. The knob 146 also includes a homeor zero position in which the recess 150 receives the actuating oroperator element 140a of the switch 140 to open the switch 140.Accordingly, when the knob 1-46 is in its home position, the switch 140is open, and the solenoid 116 is deenergized to permit the gate 26 to bemoved to the return position by the spring 134. Alternatively, wheneverthe knob 146 is rotated to any position other than the home position,the switch 140 is closed to energize the solenoid 116, and the gate ismoved to the recycle ,posiion illustrated in FIG. 2.

In order to meter the number of copies selected by the operator, themachine 10 includes a counting mechanism generally designated as 152(FIG. 6) including a ratchet wheel 154 secured to the rotatable shaft144. When the knob 146 is rotated to select a desired number of copies,the ratchet wheel 154 is turned a predetermined number of steps from thehome position. The machine 10 is provided with apparatus including apivotally mounted pawl lever 156 for stepping the ratchet wheel 154 onestep toward the home position with each recirculation of an originalsheet through the machine.

A counter solenoid 158 includes an armature 159 which is connected tothe pawl lever 156 so that when the armature 159 is moved downwardlyagainst the force of a spring 157 by energizing the winding of thesolenoid 158, the ratchet wheel advances one step. The solenoid 158 isconnected in a circuit generally designated as 161 which energizes thesolenoid 158 each time that an original sheet passes through the machine10.

Whenever an original sheet passes between the forward original driverollers 34 and 36, the sheet engages the lever 38 and actuates theoriginal sheet sensing switch 40. In response to actuation of the switch40, a copy sheet is automatically fed along the copy patch 42 andbetween the forward copy sheet drive rollers 44 and 46 (FIG. During thismovement the copy sheet engages a lever 162 which actuates a copy switch164 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The operation of the copy switch 164, in additionto other functions described in the above-mentioned copendingapplication, closes a circuit in the control circuit 118 to energize arelay 166. The operation of the relay 166 closes a pair of normally openrelay contacts 166a to connect a fullwave rectifier bridge 168 to theinput potential source. The output terminals of the bridge 168 areconnected to the counter solenoid 158. Thus whenever an original sheetpasses through the drive rollers 34 and 36, the control circuit 118 ofthe machine energizes the counter solenoid 158 and advances the ratchetwheel 154 one step toward the home position.

The circuit 118 also includes a hold switch 170 (FIG. 6) connectedacross the relay contacts 166a which is located downstream of the rearcopy sheet drive rollers 54 and 56 (FIG. 5). Since the copy sheet passesthrough the rollers 54 and 56 in synchronism with the original sheetpassing through the rear original drive rollers 58 and 60, the copysheet does not release the hold switch 170 until the original sheet hascleared the gate 26. The switch 170 holds the counter solenoid 158 inits energized condition even though the copy sheet releases the copyswitch 164 until the original sheet has cleared the gate 26. Thus thecounting mechanism cannot cause the gate 26 to move while the originalsheet is passing the gate.

During the production of the last copy, the ratchet wheel 154 is steppedto the home position so that the switch 140 is opened and the gate 26 ismoved to the return position. Accordingly, after the last copy is made,the original sheet is guided along the return path 24, through thereturn rollers 66 and 68 and onto the receiving platform 14.

If only a single copy is to be made, it is not necessary to use themanual control 120. Rather, the original sheet may be manually insertedinto the machine and a single copy is made automatically. To prevent thecontrol from being moved from the home position during such single copyproduction, the ratchet wheel 154 includes one smooth segment 154a overwhich the pawl lever 156 merely slips, rather than turning the wheel154. Thus the counting mechanism 152 is incapable of moving the control120 away from the home position. This can only be done by manualrotation of the knob 146.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the manuallyoperated control 120 is provided with a novel locking mechanismgenerally designated at 172 for preventing the copy sheet from becomingclogged or jammed in the machine 10. If the kno!b 146 were to beinadvertently rotated from the home position while the original sheet ispassing the gate 26 in the return position, the original sheet wouldbecome lodged between the guide 64 and the gate 26 and jam the machine.

In order to prevent the knob 146 and shaft 144 from being rotated whenthe gate 26 is in the return position, the locking mechanism 172includes a pivotally mounted locking lever 174 which normally rests uponthe upper edge of the pawl lever 156. The lever 174 includes anextension 174a which rides along the peripheral surface of a hub 178secured to the shaft 144. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, the hub 178 comprises an integral portion of the switchoperating cam 148 and includes a slot 180.

When the knob 146 is returned to the home position illustrated in FIG.6, the slot 180 moves under the extension 17401 on the locking lever174, and the extension drops into the slot 180 when the counter solenoid158 is actuated to lower the pawl lever 154 and free the lever 174 fordownward movement. When the counter solenoid 158 is released, thearmature 159 rnoves upwardly and elevates the lever 154 to lift theextension 174a out of the slot 180. However, during the period in whichthe solenoid 158 is energized, the extension 174a locks the cam 148 andthe shaft 144 against rotation, and the knob is firmly held in the homeposition. Thus the switch cannot be closed and the gate 26 is locked inthe return position. Since the solenoid 158 remains energized until thecopy sheet, moving in synchronization with the original sheet, clearsthe hold switch 170, the gate 26 cannot be moved from the returnposition illustrated in FIG. 3 until such time as the original sheetclears the leading edge of the gate 26.

Reviewing now the operation of the machine 10, the operator first placesan original sheet upon the feed table 12 and adjusts the edge guides 92,94, 96 and 98 to the proper width by rotation of the drank 100. Whenthese guides have been adjusted and assuming that multiple copies are toIbe made, the operator rotates the knob 146 to select the desired numberof copies to be made from the original sheet. Rotation of the knob 146and the connected cam 148 closes the switch 140, and the gate 26 ismoved to the recycle position by the energized solenoid 116.

The original sheet is then inserted through the original sheet receivingstation 13 where it actuates the original sheet sensing switch 40automatically to feed a copy sheet along the copy path 42 in synchronismwith the original sheet passing over the illumination station 48.

Assuming that a number of copies of an original are desired, the gate 26is held in the recycle position by means of the closed gate controlswitch 140, and the original sheet passes along the recycle path 22 andis recirculated across the illumination station 48. With each pass ofthe original sheet, the counting mechanism 152 steps the rotatable shaft144 one gtep toward the home position.

When the original sheet actuates the original sheet sensing switch 40 inorder to commence production of the final copy, the counting mechanism152 moves the ratchet wheel 154 to the home position thus opening theswitch 140 and causing the gtae to be moved to the return position. Thegate 26 is held in the return position because the locking mechanism 172locks the shaft 144 against rotation until the copy sheet clears thehold switch 170 and the original sheet clears the leading edge of thegate 26.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is 1. In a photoelectrostatic copying machine of thetype including an illuminating station and an exposure station forproducing a copy in acccfzrdance with an original sheet fed through theilluminating station, the combination comprising sheet guide means andsheet driving means forming a closed loop recycle path for producingmultiple copies of an original slieet, spaced movable sheet edgeengaging means disposed along a substantial portion of said closed looppath for maintaining the original sheet in position throughoutsuccessive passes around said closed loop, and adjustment meansincluding a single control external of the machine forfadjusting thedistance between said sheet edge engaging means to correspond to theoriginal sheet width.

2. In a photoelectrostatic copying machine of the type having anilluminating station andetfective to produce copies of an original sheetfed past the illuminating station, the combination comprising a feedtable external of the machine, sheet driving means and guiding meansdefining an original sheet path past the illuminating station, anoriginal sheet feeding station adjacent said feed table for theinsertion of an original sheet from said table into said original path,means defining a recycle path for recycling an original sheet from theilluminating station to said original path near said originalsheetfeeding station for producing multiple copies of an original,spaced edge guides for engaging the spaced edges of an original sheet,said edge guides including first portions extending along said recyclepath for maintaining an original sheet in position duringsuccessivepasses and including second portions visibly positioned and extendingfrom said original sheet feeding station along said feed table forinitially aligning the original sheet, and means for adjusting thespacing of said edge guides to correspond to the sheet width.

3. In a photoelectrostatic copying machine of the type having anilluminating station and effective to produce copies of an originalsheet fed past the illuminating station, the combination comprising afeed table external of the machine, sheet driving means and guidingmeans defining an original sheet path past the illuminating station, anoriginal sheet feeding station adjacent said feed table for theinsertion of an original sheet from said table into said original path,means defining a recycle path for recycling an original sheet, from theliluminating station to said original path near said original sheetfeeding station for producing multiple, copies of an original, spacededge guides for engaging the spaced edges of an original sheet, saidedge guides including first portions extending along said recycle pathfor maintaining an original sheet in position during successive passesand including second portions visibly positioned and extending from saidoriginal sheet feeding station along said feed table for initiallyaligning the original sheet, and means including a single manual controlfor adjusting the spacing of said edge guides to correspond to the sheetwidth.

4. In a photoelectrostatic copying machine of the type including 'anilluminating station and an exposure station for producing a copy inaccordance with an original sheet fed through the illuminating station,the combination comprising sheet guide means and sheet driving meansforming a closed loop recycle path for producing multiple copies of anoriginal sheet, adjustable sheet edge engaging means disposed along asubstantial portion of said closed loop path for maintaining theoriginal sheet in position throughout successive passes around saidclosed loop, a housing enclosing the closed loop recycle path and theadjustable sheet edge engaging means, adjusting means connected to thesheet edge engaging means and including operator means disposed outsideof the housing for adjusting the sheet edge engaging means to differentspaced positions for different size sheets, and means disposed outsideof the housing for feeding an original sheet into the closed looprecycle path and including at least one movable guiding means controlledby the adjusting means and operable to positions corresponding to thepositions of the sheet edge engaging means.

5. In a photoelectrostatic copying machine for producing copies inaccordance with an original sheet, the combination comprising meansforming an illuminating path for an original sheet, an illuminatingstation along said illuminating path, a return path for delivering anoriginal sheet from said illuminating path to the exterior of themachine, a recycle path for recycling an original sheet through saidilluminating path to produce multiple copes, guide means movable betweena return position for guiding an original sheet from said illuminatingpath to said return path and a recycle position for guiding an originalsheet from said illuminating path to said recycle path, guidecontrolling means including a manually operable programming control formoving said guide means from said return position to said recycleposition and for selecting a number of copies to be made from anoriginal sheet, means for moving said guide means from said recycleposition to said return position as the last selected copy is made, andmeans for locking said manually 0perable programming control as the lastselected copy is made until the original sheet has cleared said guidemeans.

6. Sheet handling apparatus comprising an input sheet path, first andsecond output paths leading from said input path, gate means movablebetween a first position for directing a sheet from said input path tosaid first output path and a second position for directing the sheetfrom said input path to said second output path, gate controlling meansincluding manually operable means for moving said gate from said firstto said second position and for automatically returning said gate to thefirst position before the last of a predetermined number of sheets hadpassed said gate, and means for preventing movement of said gate meanswhile a sheet passes said gate.

7. Sheet handling apparatus comprising an input sheet path, first andsecond output paths leading from said input path, gate means movablebetween a first position for directing a sheet from said input path tosaid first output path and a second position for directing the sheetfrom said input path to said second output path, gate controlling meansincluding manually operable control means for moving said gate from saidfirst to said second position and for automatically returning said gateto the first position before the last of a predetermined number ofsheets has passed said gate, and means for holding said gate means insaid first position while said last sheet passes said gate, said holdingmeans including means for locking said manually operable control means.

8. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a closed loop path, a branch pathleading from said closed loop path, a gate movable between a recycleposition completing said closed loop path and a return positioneffective to 11 guide a sheet into said branch path, gate controllingmeans including manually operable control means for moving said gate tosaid recycle position and for selecting a number of times a sheet is topass around said closed loop path, means responsive to the passage ofthe sheet around said closed loop path for moving said gate to saidreturn position in order to guide the sheet into said branch path afterthe final pass, and means for locking said manually operable controlmeans in order to hold said gate in said return position while the sheetpasses the gate.

9. Sheet handling apparatus comprising a closed loop path, a branch pathleading from said closed loop path, a gate movable between a recycleposition completing said closed loop path and a return positioneffective to guide a sheet into said branch path, gate controlling meansincluding a manually rotatable shaft movable from a home position forcontrolling the movement of said gate to said recycle position and forselecting a number of times a sheet is to pass around said closed looppath, counting means for moving said shaft toward said home positionwhen actuated, means responsive to the passage of the sheet around saidclosed loop path for actuating said counting means with each passwhereby said shaft is moved to said home position during the finalselected pass, means responsive to movement of said shaft to the homeposition for returning said gate to said return position in order toguide the sheet into said branch path after the final pass, and meansengageable with said shaft for locking said shaft in the home positionwhile the sheet passes the gate.

10. A copying machine for making copies of an original on copy sheetscomprising an orginal illuminating station, original conveying means formoving an original through the illuminating station, said conveyingmeans including movable gate means operable to a first position todischarge the original and to a second position to direct the originalinto a recycle path extending to the illaminating station, control meansfor selectively moving the gate means between the first and secondpositions, interlock means in said control means for preventing themovement of the gate means from the first position to the secondposition, and means for rendering the interlock means effective toprevent movement of the gate means from the first position to the secondposition during the time interval in which the original is passingthrough the illuminating station.

11. A copying machine for making copies of an original on copy sheetscomprising an original illuminating station, original conveying meansfor moving an original through the illuminating station, said conveyingmeans including movable gate means operable to a first position todischarge the original and to a second position to direct the originalinto a recycle path extending to the illuminating station, control meansfor selectively moving the gate means between the first and secondpositions, interlock means in said control means for preventing themovement of the gate means from the second position to the firstposition, and means for rendering the interlock means effective toprevent movement of the gate means from the second position to the firstposition until after the original has entered the return path and thetrailing edge of the original has passed the gate means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,661 6/1934 Fuller 19s 24 X2,235,844 3/1941 Nelson 271-41 3,091,169 5/19 3 Taini 9s -77.5 3,181,4205/1965 Rautbord 88-24 EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R.

